Episode 46: Rosemarie Milsom - Newcastle Writers Festival founder on ethical courage and cultural leadership through crisis

Due to recent events at Bendigo Writers Festival, we felt it timely to release this episode, recorded earlier this year.Sam reconnects with Rosemarie Milsom, founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, whose crisis management approach offers a masterclass in ethical cultural leadership. With journalism experience and current role as Walkley Book Award panel chair, Rosemarie navigated unprecedented challenges whilst maintaining commitment to diverse voices.Crisis LeadershipFollowing October 7, 2023, Rosemarie faced escalating tensions with programmed writers holding opposing Israel-Palestine views. The situation required police intervention, including tactical response teams.Her approach emphasised stakeholder engagement over public statements - tailored communication strategies and proactive consultation months before controversy emerged. Despite intense social media campaigns and direct threats, she maintained the festival's commitment to all invited writers without losing a single artist.Cultural Leadership InsightsRosemarie contrasts her approach with recent institutional retreats, arguing many leaders abandon missions due to fear. Her perspective proves powerful given her background as a Bosnian Muslim who lost family to genocide, yet demonstrates separating personal feelings from professional responsibilities.The festival operates without major donors, building grassroots support whilst maintaining ethical positions like refusing coal industry funding.Key Quotes"If you start removing artists from what you do, it's a really slippery slope.""When you're in a leadership position, if you let fear govern your existence, then I think you probably shouldn't be in a leadership position."LinksNewcastle Writers Festival: https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership Instagram: @DCLPod | Threads: @DCLPod | X: @DCLPod Email: [email protected] | www.samuelcairnduff.comPresenter and research: Dr Samuel Cairnduff Connect with Decoding Cultural Leadership on social mediaInstagram, Threads, X/Twitter:@[email protected]@samuelcairnduffRead Sam's Substack here.Presenter and research: Sam CairnduffCreative Director: Niloofar PashmforooshPresented in association with LimelightDecoding Cultural Leadership | Culture. Society. Conversations